Mechanical fiber flexing device



June 9, 1964 H. H. BAILEY MECHANICAL FIBER mzxmc DEVICE Filed Oct. 8, 1962 FIG/I United States Patent 3,136,146 MECHANICAL FIBER FLEXING DEVICE Herman H. Baiiey, Belmont, Mass, assignor to W. R

Grace 8; 60., Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Connecticut Fiied 0st. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 228,950 4 Claims. (CI. 68-43) This invention is concerned with a device for flexing wet, spread-out, open-width textile webs. The apparatus is based upon my observation that if a textile web in spread-out condition, is submerged in a liquid bath and then is subjected to two types of motion simultaneously, (1) a limited winding and unwinding motion acting on the individual strands of the web and (2) a rapid oscillation or up-and-down movement of the submerged web, penetration of the fluid into the interfiber space of the individual threads and expulsion of soil from such space is made more rapid and effective.

Consequently, a device capable of imparting these modes of motion to a submerged web has a multiple utility. (a) If used in conjunction with cleaning and Wash solutions, it greatly improves and expedites the discharge of color or soil, i.e. as from a back-gray. (b) If used in conjunction with finishing operations it improves the penetration of the treating fluid, for example,when used in a dye bath it improves the evenness of the dye and permits the web to run through the dye bath at an increased speed.

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through a back-gray Washer.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective, expanded view of the webflexing device.

The following specification will describe the device as it is incorporated in a back-gray washer. A considerable amount of printing-is done on printing ranges which are equipped with back-grays. Since the purpose of a gray is to absorb the excess color which is driven through the textile in the printing operation, the gray carries away considerable color which must be removed to prevent offset before the gray again can be run on the range. The advent of pigment colors, which are solid particles suspended in a medium which promotes the adhesion of the particle to the fiber, has complicated back-gray washing procedures. The pigments must be removed from the back-gray by some effective washing procedure which will suspend and carry away solid particles of pigment and sofl. Since the resins or other adhesive bind ers which are used to attach particles to the printed goods are, to say the least, diflicult to disperse, the cleaning of a back-gray which has been penetrated by pigment colors requires vigorous treatment.

Commonly, the spread-out back-gray is run .past a bank'of cleaning brushes which are flooded with the cleaning solution. The solution frequently includes solvents and dispersants to solubilize and disperse the resins and it may also contain substances which aid in the suspension of the solid particles of soil. I Vigorous brushing is the cause of considerable backgray wear. Since the improved machine does not remove soil by brushing or abrasion, much back-gray Wear is avoided by its use.

The limited twisting and untwisting motion of the individual strands of the web is imparted by a rotating group of free-running, helical rolls. The group is power-driven and turns in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the web. Each of the free-running rolls turns by frictional engagement with the web. The face of each roll is a leftand right-hand helix 'outrunning from the center to the selvage edge. Hence',a wet, moving web pulled tightly over the rotating assembly develops a series of undulations or corrugations which run rapidly across: the web and disappear at each selvage. Between the rolls, however, tension smooths and flattens the web. Consequently, as the bank of rolls revolves against the forward motion of the web the web is pulled in between the turns of each helix. The successive engagement as each roll rises into contact with the web forms a new series of undulations. As a consequence, the individual strands of the web experience considerable twisting and untwisting as the web moves forward.

The submerged guide rolls which support the ends of the reach of the web which is trained over the roll array may be plain, free-running metallic cylinders if the web is strong. However, if the web is a delicate fabric, the sharp jerk which is imposed as the array of rolls changes its aspect may damage the web. I have found that when one or more of the submerged rolls (29 or 31 of FIG- URE l) is a shock absorber, delicate webs may be run without damage. Consequently, I prefer to make the surface of at least one of the rolls distortable and have found a brush to be a simple and convenient shock absorber, for the bristles bend and relieve the stress in response to a sharp pull.

A submerged brush has another advantage. It also acts as a pump and, as it revolves, entrains a large volume of cleaning fluid which is expelled through the interstices of the cloth. The flushing away of color or soil is enhanced. The pumping and thorough-flushing action can be so intense that the volume of fluid thrown in be tween the brush and the web is actually sufiicient to lift the web away from the tips of the bristles. In certain cases, this is quite desirable. Consequently, I provide power means to drive at least one of the brushes (31, FIGURE 1) which can drive the brush at a surface speed in excess of the surface speed of the web and in this way create anhydraulic, shock-absorbing cushion independently of the actual web speed. Brushes are but one type of shock absorber. Rubber blades or multiple flexible fingers can be substituted for the rows of radial bristles. Equivalent other means will readily suggest themselves to those familiar with the art and this disclosure.

Squeeze rolls then remove liquid from the web. From the wash apparatus, the web may run through a dryer and then back to the press if the printing range has been adapted to use continuous back-greys. Otherwise, it is run through a dryer and then is re-rolled. I i

As shown in FIGURE 2, the web-flexing element consists of a power-driven shaft, 10, which extends transversely across a wash-tank, 11 (FIGURE 1). Its vertical position in the tank lies well below the water line. The individual flexing rolls, 12, 13, and 14, in a'polygonalarray are supported on triangular spiders, -15 and 16, which are fastened to the 'shaft,.10, and lie just inside the longitudinal tank walls, 17 and1 8. Each armof the spiders is equipped with a bearing, 19, in which the shafts of rolls, 12, 13,, and 14, turn.

The rolls, 12, 13 and 14, are each provided with a helical face, 21, which, beginning at the center of the web, 23, enters two rolls.

7 able apertures formed in the tank into the external bearing.

aaaenae roll, is outrunning to its end. Assuming that the body of a roll is 4 inches in diameter, a suitable helical face can be formed by winding a A inch rod spaced on inch centers outwardly from the center of the roll. The leftand right-hand halves of the helix are wound in opposite directions and are brazed to the roll body. The joint at the center of the roll is brazed and finished to form a smooth point, 22. Usually brass is a suitable material, but special cleaning or dyeing solutions may make stainless steel construction advisable.

In the back-gray'washing apparatus, an open-width by passing over roll, 24, which is trans versely supported on a suitable superstructure, 25, erected above the entrance end, 26, of the tank, 11. Web, 23, is then passed under roll, 27, which operates half submerged at the waterline, 28.

After passing behind and beneath the roll, 27, the web is, trained over the topmost ofthe array of helical flexing rolls, 12, 13, and 14, and then over the remaining The web then passes around the shock absorber roll, 29, and under and around a second shock absorber, brush 31, which may be power driven. From brush, 31, the path of the web is upwards and out of the tank. 'As the web leaves the tank it first passes over reversing roll, 32, then over the bed roll, 33, and under andv around the spring-pressed squeeze roll, 34. The

'shafts, of thebed roll, 33, and other powendriven rolls.

are power driven through operative shaft connections (usually cogged belts) by a power source not shown. 7

Brush, 31, if power driven, maybe run at any speed desired in excess of the surface speed of the web. The shaft, 19, however, is run at a speed approximately twice that of the surface speed of the web. e

The shafts of all the power-driven rolls extend beyond the walls of the tank and are supported by bearings and bearing housings which are fastened to suitably reinforced portions of the tank wall. 'Where the power shafts operate below the Water line, the shafts pass through suit walls and each shaft, as it passes through .the wall, is equipped with a suitable seal to prevent leakage or seepage of the cleaning fluid operate wholly within the tank are equipped with water proof bearings.

As in conventional washers, the cleaning solution may I be run either in jan'open or closed circuit. If the circuit is closed, the'fluid-is recirculated by a pump connected between the'tank inlet, 35, and an overflow pipe, 36. A scum separator is advantageously inserted in the circuit.

Alternatively, and especially if Water is used as the cleaning liquid, the overflow pipe, 3 6, may be run to the sewer and a pressure inflow may the inlet, 35. Frequently, by sprays projected, from pipe, 37. Pressure which sprayheadsmay be. developed by the circulating purn or may be derived from the water line.

Operation As the web is drawn through the apparatus and as the shaft, 10, which revolves in a direction counter tothe The effect of a rapid succession ofoutrunning creases or' corrugations is to cause a limited twisting and untwisting 'of-the. individual strands of which the web is composed. Byunwinding,.a'faster penetration of liquid between the The free-running shafts which be established through also, the web may be'pre-wet sprayheads inserted in spray forces the liquid through the the helical rolls, the fabric of the array and power means to individual fibers is permitted and by rewinding, a more effective expulsion of the now suspended color or soil is brought about. Simultaneously the violent up-and-down motion imparted to the whole web as the triangle of rolls revolve moves the suspended color away from the surface of the cloth.

Simultaneously also the sharp successive pulls are cushioned by the brushes, 29 and 31, and at the same time considerable volumes of fluid, pumped by the rows of bristles on the face of the revolving brush, are forced through the fabric as the brushes, 29 and 31, revolve.

Three helical rolls arranged at the apices of the triangular spider appears to be an effective arrangement and gives-a significant improvement in washing under most circumstances. ,However, the number of rolls can be varied and more can be added to the group should this'prove desirable. I prefer the triangular arrangement since the up-and-down motion or slosh of the web in the cleaning fluidv is more pronounced.

Although I have given as my preferred example a back-gray washer "equipped with the improved Web-flexing mechanism, it should be understood that theusefulness of the mechanism is not confined to washing, but may be used in conjunction with dyeing, tie-sizing, bleaching, open-soaping, andother textile finishing operations, and that the apparatus may be installed in such finishing apparatus. In the appended claims, the words web treating apparatusflare intended to include such types of wet web-treatin g apparatus.

I claim:

1. An open width, 'web-treating apparatus including a tank wherein a web of textile material is drawn through a bath of treating fliud in horizontal flight, web flexing means submerged-in said bath including a plurality of transversely arranged free-running helically faced rolls in a polygonal array and power means to rotate the array of rolls as a unit, a plurality of transversely arranged rolls adapted to maintain the flight of the web submerged in the treating fluid, at least one of the said transverse rolls havin a flexible and distortable face to cushion the stress imposed on the web by therotation rotate said roll.

2'. In textile web treating apparatus whereina web of textile material is drawn through a bath of treating fluid,,the improvement including a transverse, powerdriven shaft rotating in contra-direction to that of the web travel positioned below the fluid level of said bath, power means to rotate the shaft, roll'support means fastened to the shaft, a plurality of free-running rolls journaled onthe support means and forming an assembly of polygonal contour, eachof said rolls having a helically formed face comprising rightand left-hand helices joined at the mid point and outrunning to the ends of the rolls, a'plurality of guide rolls arranged to direct the web in generally horizontal flights beneath the surface of the liquid, at least one of said rolls having its face formed from radially extending rows of a flexible distortable substance whereby fluid is entrained and expelled by the rotation of said roll in the fluid, andpower means to drive the roll at-speeds materially inexcess of means and formingan assembly of polygonal contour,

each of said rolls having a helically formed face comprising rightand left-hand helices joined at themid point and outrunning to the ends of the rolls, a third transverse guide roll located in proximity to the bottom and to the opposite end of the tank, at least one of said guide rolls being power driven tortable face, the guide roll arrangement being such as to cause an open web trained about said rolls to travel in generally horizontal paths, the rotation of the helical rolls causing a succession of rapidly moving outrunning corrugations in the web and the rotation of the helical array simultaneously causing the rapid up-and-down oscillation of the flight of the web in the treating fluid.

4. Open web-treating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein power means are provided to drive the array of helical rolls at a surface speed approximately twice that of the speed of the web through the treating bath, and to drive at least one of the flexibly faced guide rolls and having a flexible and disat speeds materially in excess of the surface speed of the web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES German printed application 1,011,438, July 4, 1957. 

1. AN OPEN WIDTH, WEB-TREATING APPARATUS INCLUDING A TANK WHEREIN A WEB OF TEXTILE MATERIAL IS DRAWN THROUGH A BATH OF TREATING FLUID IN HORIZONTAL FLIGHT, WEB FLEXING MEANS SUBMERGED IN SAID BATH INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY ARRANGED FREE-RUNNING HELICALLY FACED ROLLS IN A POLYGONAL ARRAY AND POWER MEANS TO ROTATE THE ARRAY OF ROLLS AS A UNIT, A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY ARRANGED ROLLS ADAPTED TO MAINTAIN THE FLIGHT OF THE WEB SUBMERGED IN THE TREATING FLUID, AT LEAST ONE OF THE SAID TRANSVERSE ROLLS HAVING A FLEXIBLE AND DISTORTABLE FACE TO 